Effects Of Nitrous Oxide
There is no safe level of drug use. Use of any drug always carries risk. Its important to be careful when taking any type of drug.
Nitrous oxide affects everyone differently, based on:
- the amount taken
- the users size, weight and health
- whether the person is used to taking it
- whether other drugs are taken around the same time
The following effects may be felt almost immediately and can last for a few minutes: 2,4,5
- feeling unusually tired or weak
If a large amount of nitrous oxide is inhaled it can produce: 2,4,7
- loss of blood pressure
Inhaling nitrous oxide can be fatal if you dont get enough oxygen, which is known as hypoxia.2,3,5
What Are Nitrous Oxide Withdrawal Symptoms
Withdrawal from Nitrous Oxide is a serious matter. The effects on the body from Nitrous Oxide use is extreme, and because of these effects Nitrous Oxide withdrawal can very quickly become an acute medical emergency. Withdrawal from Nitrous Oxide can cause a hypertensive crisis or myocardial infraction. In other words, a stroke or heart attack caused by sudden stoppage in taking Nitrous Oxide or respiratory distress syndrome whereby your body shuts down from the lungs and respiratory system outwards. Nitrous Oxide withdrawal can also lead to serious anxiety and mental health related issues.
Never in any circumstances underestimate the seriousness of Nitrous Oxide withdrawal. If you are withdrawing from Nitrous Oxide it is advisable to seek medical attention and in the case of medical emergency from Nitrous Oxide withdrawal do not hesitate to head to the nearest Emergency Room.
Nitrous Oxide withdrawal will vary for everyone and will be affected by several factors. The length and severity of Nitrous Oxide use with be one of the main predictors of withdrawal symptoms and intensity. With Nitrous Oxide withdrawal, its impossible to accurately predict how an individual will react to withdrawal.
Is Nitrous Oxide Illegal
No. But, the use of nitrous oxide, or hippy crack, or laughing gas for recreation use is illegal in the UK. However, when used for medical purposes such as a dentist’s office, or in the catering industry for prolonging the shelf life of whipped cream and other substances, it is not illegal.
Also, when injected into a car engine to achieve higher speeds, this is legal, but you must notify your Insurance Company of the modification.
The lines are crossed when nitrous oxide use is for recreation purposes only, mentioned before the 2016 Psychoactive Substances Act. This gives police powers to arrest you. You should also not import nitrous oxide for this purpose.
The illegal High is dangerous and can damage or in some small incidences cause loss of life to the user.
The maximum sentence that can be administered is 7 years for those supplying the gas for inhalation and not professional use.
Although illegal internet sites promote stories to inform users of how to use the substance in safety.
They will ask one to sign up and then feed you more stories about hippie crack and other promoted stories that are fake on how it is freely available.
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Is Nitrous Oxide Addictive
Short answer: yes.
Nitrous oxide can be incredibly addictive, similar to most substances that are abused today. However, a big problem with trying to help an individual who is addicted to nitrous oxide is getting help in the first place, then preventing relapse. Nitrous oxide has the reputation of being a more lighthearted substance to abuse than heroin or cocaine. Although heroin is slightly more dangerous than nitrous oxide, the side effects of abusing nitrous oxide are not to be taken lightly.
Like mentioned before, individuals who become accustomed to abusing nitrous oxide will need larger and larger doses to feel the drugs effects. This could result in potential brain damage, coma, and even death. This drugs effects can vary depending on an individuals weight, dosage taken, tolerance, and if the nitrous oxide is mixing with any other substances. Here are some of the different side effects of abusing and being addicted to nitrous oxide:
Rehab For Volatile Substance Addiction
As with any addiction, if the individual has lost control over their using and is unable to get, or stay abstinent in the community, rehab is considered the most successful and comprehensive form of addiction treatment available.
Some substances are pretty harmless when done in moderation and with caution, but with addiction things quickly spiral out of control. Abuse of any volatile substance is highly risky and should be avoided completely.
When an addiction to a volatile substance such as laughing gas has developed, the sufferer loses the choice of whether to take it or leave it. The brain re-programmes itself to seek out the drug that stimulates the reward and pleasure system, no matter what the cost to the individual sufferer or to others.
Addiction leads to a web of secrecy, lies, deceit, manipulation and degradation. The sufferer often ends up alone with only their addiction for the company, having driven all that love and trusted them away.
Laughing gas is no different to any other volatile substance, drug or behaviour if you have an addiction, you will be compelled to do things you would not normally do in order to get your next fix, even if means hurting yourself or those you love the most.
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Nitrous Oxide Abuse Is Treatable
The good news is that there are plenty of drug rehabilitation programs that can provide a safe detox and recovery from whippits. Of these 11 facts about whippits, this fact is the most important one to remember. If you believe you or a loved one may have a problem with nitrous oxide abuse or addiction, reach out to our admissions department at 888-512-9802 or online to get help today.
How Common Is Nitrous Oxide Use
- The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, also known as SAMHSA, reported whip-its as being the most popular recreational inhalant of choice. In fact, more than 12 million users in the US have tried whip-its at least once. The National Institute on Drug Abuse reports a majority of first-time users are 16 or 17 years old and choose to use whip-its as opposed to other inhalants.
- Those who want to repeatedly use nitrous oxide may go to their local grocery store. Balloons are filled with it and sold at concerts, and teenagers and young adults attend parties where the drug is sold. In some areas, law enforcement is cracking down on the use of nitrous oxide, especially as a party drug. The LA County sheriffs office identified more than 350 illegal parties where nitrous oxide was being sold in 2014.
What Are the Side Effects of Noz?The side effects of noz vary in severity. Also known as hippie crack, this drug causes short-term effects, such as:
- Difficulty breathing
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Mixing Nitrous Oxide With Other Drugs
Often, people who abuse nitrous oxide take other drugs as well. While there are not certain combinations that are known to be lethal, abusing whippets with central nervous system depressants can increase their effects. This may lead to extreme sedation and dangerous respiratory depression.
Using whippets with stimulant drugs may increase the risk of adverse effects on the heart, such as a heart attack. Stimulant drugs raise a persons heart rate and blood pressure. Taking them with nitrous oxide can put even more strain on the heart.
Nitrous Oxide And Vitamin B12
WebMD writes that people who have a mild vitamin B12 deficiency might not experience any symptoms, but in cases where the deficiency goes untreated, the symptoms can become quite serious. They include:
- Loss of appetite, as well as bowel and digestion problems
- Numbness or tingling in the fingers and toes
- Difficulty walking
As far back as 1993, the Archives of Surgery journal noted that nitrous oxide renders vitamin B12 inactive, and patients whose bodies cannot manufacture this vitamin are exceedingly sensitive to neurologic deterioration. The focus of the journal article was on vitamin B12-deficient patients who were receiving nitrous oxide in their anesthesia, but the scientists noted that untreated neurologic deterioration as a result of nitrous oxide exposure would not only become irreversible but could even result in the death of the patient.
The researchers in Practical Neurology shared three case studies of the neurological effects of recreational use of nitrous oxide . One of the patients got his nitrous oxide from whippit canisters , which are sold commercially for use with whipped cream cans.
Without that oxygen, people who take straight nitrous oxide are in danger of developing immediate hypoxia, decreased oxygen content in the blood. By taking more and more N20 without properly administered oxygen, or even inhaling simple room air at the same time, the resulting hypoxia might lead to irreversible brain damage.
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What To Do If Youre Worried About Using Nitrous Oxide
Seek help, there are many informative posts about N20 that may support the user of N20.
If you feel you cant beat the habit on your own Abbeycare can help.
Abbeycare is a research led facility that utilizes the best levels of care and support when delivering a rehab programme.
Recovery is possible for anybody from any background or walk or life.
If you visualize yourself free from alcohol and drugs living a happy and productive life?
And wish to learn more about our Recovery Treatment or how to stop using N20 call our free 24/7 Helpline on 01603 513 091 or fill out the form below to speak to a trained recovery counsellor.
N20 is not designed to be inhaled into the human bloodstream. The gas has become part of mainstream society with it use through Balloons increasing amongst the younger generation on the party scene.
With all drugs both physical and mental dependence can occur, and professional support is required. Abbeycare can provide a safe and secure place to rehabilitate from the misuse of Nitrous Oxide NO2 street name Hippy Crack or Balloons.
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The Effects Of Nitrous Oxide Abuse
Like most drugs, nitrous oxide users quickly adjust to the lowest dosage. With repeated use, they may need more and more nitrous oxide to experience the same effects. A 1994 research study showed that rats who were exposed to nitrous oxide did the same thing. With repeat exposure, the rats adjusted to the effects of nitrous oxide. They needed higher doses of the drug to feel the same effects.
This, of course, is one of the primary reasons people become addicted to drugs. They seek the high of drugs like nitrous oxide, so they take it more often. Eventually, they cant feel the effects they seek from the same dose. So they take more, hoping to feel that same high. This creates more tolerance, so they have to take even higher doses for the same effects. Their dependence grows. At some point, they can not function without the drug. They use nitrous oxide to relieve anxiety, and they feel depressed or anxious when they arent high.
For many users, the drug becomes their only goal. They forget about the long-term side effects and other consequences of illegal drug use. They need the drug to feel normal, so they take more and more nitrous oxide.
With nitrous oxide abuse, it is easy to become physically dependent. If your body experiences withdrawals, you may have severe physical reactions. Researchershttps://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2787661/ say the withdrawals from inhalants resemble the nature and severity of alcohol withdrawal symptoms.
Mild symptoms may include:
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How To Help A Family Member Abusing Laughing Gas
If you have found evidence to suggest that a loved one or family member is abusing Nitrous Oxide, it is important to speak to them and not just hope that it is a phase. Nitrous Oxide, when abused can kill. In most cases, it is usually a phase of experimentation, but with some, it can be a full-on addiction.
If they insist on carrying on with their use and see it as harmless fun, there are measures they can take to help safeguard themselves against harm, but even taking these measures is no guarantee that harm will not befall them due to the nature and unpredictability of volatile gases.
On speaking to them about your concerns, they may well brush off being challenged, especially if they are not ready to give it up. They may also justify their use, saying its safer than alcohol or other drugs and that all their friends do it. Urging them to read this page may well help them to see that it is not harmless and that there is support and help available if they have a problem.
Treating Nitrous Oxide Addiction
While some people may believe that nitrous oxide use is safe because its legal, like any addiction, nitrous oxide addiction is challenging to overcome. However, it is treatable.
Treatment methods include:
- Contacting your doctor
- Accessing counseling/psychotherapy
Your doctor can point you toward the local drug and alcohol addiction services. Alternatively, some prescription medications, such as naltrexone, have proven to weaken nitrous oxide cravings and reduce the potential harm associated with chronic use.
Accessing therapy may help avoid the triggers that make relapse more likely, such as stress and environmental cues.
Counseling can also assist you in uncovering traumas or emotional difficulties that may be fueling your nitrous oxide use.
Therapy methods commonly used to treat drug and alcohol addiction include:
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What Is A Whippet
Whippets is modern slang for nitrous oxide used as a recreational inhalant. The name comes from whipped-cream aerosol canisters, which users crack open to get at the gas inside.
Being easy to obtain from legitimately purchased products, whippets now rank among the top 10 most abused drugs in the world. And although many places have laws against selling nitrous oxide to minors, teenagers under 18 are a top user demographic.
Can People Become Addicted To Nitrous Oxide
Its rare to form an addiction to inhalants, but it can happen. This may be in part because nitrous oxide, like many inhalants, can be extremely dangerous to abuse multiple times. As Drug Free World reports, those who abuse inhalants may experience overwhelming urges to keep abusing them. When attempting to stop abuse, or when a person no longer has access to the inhalant, he or she may also experience withdrawal symptoms.
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Risks Of Nitrous Oxide Addiction
One of the biggest dangers of nitrous oxide abuse and addiction is that many people are unaware of the risks associated with it, especially young people. As the National Inhalant Prevention Coalition explains, many parents are in the dark regarding the popularity and dangers of inhalant use.
It tends to be younger people who are most at risk. Inhalants are inexpensive, easy to obtain, and may provide one of the easiest ways to get high. The NIPC reports that inhalants are one of the most commonly abused substances in the country they are as highly abused as marijuana, and perhaps much more dangerous.
Inhalants are dangerous because they produce the same effect as anesthetics: they slow body function. As with many substances, the degree of effect of inhalants depends on the person taking them. A person may experience impaired function, lack of or lowered inhibition, or even faint .
Perhaps one of the biggest risks associated with inhalant abuse and addiction is a condition called Sudden Sniffing Death Syndrome. The NIPC explains this means: the user can die the 1st, 10th or 100th time he or she uses an inhalant.
Whippits Whippets And Whip
Whippits is the street name for a nitrous oxide charger. The name is likely related to the chargers intended purpose to refill whipped cream dispensers.
Different people and organizations spell the term differently. When referring to nitrous oxide chargers, whippits, whippets and whip-its mean the same thing.
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Risks Of Using Nitrous Oxide
The risks are low to nil when consumed in a medical environment under strict observation. However, once consumption is becoming a regular occurrence, you may start to notice that there are symptoms that are affecting your life more often.
There are short-term and long-term effects, like any substance you consume. Therefore, it is good to be aware of the signs.
Nitrous Oxide Abuse Can Be Life
Whippits produce a rapid, short-lasting high, which encourages teens to abuse them again and again. Continuous inhalation of nitrous oxide at higher concentrations can be life-threatening, as the brain is deprived of oxygen. For example, using whippits with a bag over your head, or nitrous oxide tanks with a face mask or in a small enclosed space, like a car, can result in irreversible brain damage and death. In some people, even minimal nitrous oxide abuse can provoke seizures, aspiration, irregular heart rhythms, trauma, or loss of lung or heart function that may be fatal. The lethality of nitrous oxide abuse is even greater when nitrous oxide is used with other drugs or alcohol.
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Nitrous Oxide Can Be Addictive
Addiction to inhalants isnt common, but it does occur. Addiction is a disease that causes people to abuse drugs despite knowing the negative consequences. Some people rely on whippits for stress relief. Others become addicted to the buzz caused by nitrous oxide.
Nitrous oxide can also cause withdrawal symptoms when a person reduces or stops their use of the drug. Experiencing withdrawal is a sign of dependence.
Nitrous Oxide Abuse Effects
In 1994, researchers writing in the Brain Research Bulletin journal noted that rats exposed to nitrous oxide developed a tolerance for the drug that is, they became used to the behavioral effects of nitrous oxide and subsequently needed larger amounts of the gas in order to enjoy the same effects. In this way, N20 acts like many other drugs, convincing users to keep taking increasing amounts of it to try and recapture the initial burst of euphoria. This merely serves to deepen the dependence on the laughing gas, and it soon becomes the primary way that a person can feel comfort, relaxation, or happiness. This becomes the focus, notwithstanding the physical and psychological effects of flooding the body with pure nitrous oxide at dangerous rates.
As N20 abuse persists, it becomes progressively more difficult for a person to manage without the nitrous oxide, to the point where the body reacts violently if it doesnt get the dosage it has become accustomed to. Researchers writing in the Medical Hypothesis journal note that withdrawal symptoms from recreational use of inhalant drugs can be clinically significant among heavy inhalant users, and are similar in many ways to the what happens when a person addicted to alcohol is forced to go without drinking.
Such symptoms can include:
In more serious cases of nitrous oxide abuse, or where the withdrawal goes untreated, patients will likely experience more distressing effects:
- Mental disorientation
- High blood pressure
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